Launch Housing, a community organisation that delivers homelessness services and life-changing housing supports to disadvantaged Victorians, published their Insights paper titled: How to end an avoidable homelessness and health emergency.
The report details the need for addressing the intertwined issues of homelessness and health crises. It identifies key factors contributing to avoidable homelessness, such as inadequate access to healthcare, economic instability and systemic barriers.
The report advocates for a multi-pronged approach that includes increasing affordable housing, enhancing healthcare access and implementing supportive services to prevent homelessness before it occurs.
It also emphasises the need for coordinated efforts between government agencies, healthcare providers and community organisations to create a sustainable framework that addresses both immediate and long-term needs, ultimately aiming to eliminate preventable instances of homelessness and associated health emergencies.
It’s really important that we work together because [people experiencing homelessness] don’t just have one need – they have a mixture of social, mental and physical needs and this requires a holistic team to address all these needs.
– Program Nurse
A3HN | Australian Health, Housing & Homelessness Network 